Day 73: Orlandia

Today Christina Su dedicated the ride to a group she ate dinner with last night, five of whom were cancer survivors.

This morning we had a mostly successful departure as we started to roll out at around 6:30 after our 4:45 wake up along with breakfast served to us by the church community members. Although it was another hot day, we missed the worst of the heat as we pushed the rest stops to mile 28 and 53. It seemed like the terrain today was something that you would expect to see an actual desert, with the cacti and yellow fields. 68 miles felt very easy and since we had barely any climbing the day was not extremely challenging.

We arrived at yet another Methodist Church at around 1:00 and headed over to the local pool that had a Sandlot feel to it with painted blue walls and tall diving boards. We got major Cali vibes from the people there as we noticed that every single lifeguard was bleach blonde. When 25 of us rolled up at the pool, we got asked if we were a swim team. An inflatable obstacle course at the pool was the perfect place for races, and some of the little kids there even challenged us to a competition. Orland had a very small town feel to it and the lifeguards were calling out some of the little kids by name when they were messing around.

We have begun to notice that Methodist churches are the ones that usually provide us with potluck dinners and for dinner we were treated to roast beef, rice, rolls, and a plethora of salads. Pretty much all of us helped ourselves to seconds…or fourths (Mackenzie).

Although i4prom was supposed to take place tonight, since we decided to have another early wake up tomorrow we postponed it. Since we are staying at a very tiny church tomorrow it is not looking like the dance will actually take place. Stay tuned.

We are all coming to the realization that we only have three more days of riding and it is STRANGE. In a way it seems like this new lifestyle that we have adopted will go on forever. Sleeping in a normal bed will be weird.

Tomorrow is supposed to be a hard day. Probably the hardest we have left.

For each member of this wonderful Illini-4000 team! You are almost there, but be alert. CS

「Almost there」
From Chicago union station, you left, with Illini orange shirts.
I wonder if your parents still think you are just little birds.
You room is spacious, your bed is soft,
But this long summer, home becomes all of a sudden so quite.
Listen to nothing, except for cicada sing.

You roll out of the Time Square from the Empire state,
And after seventy six days and nights,
You will ride on the Golden Gate Bridge on the very west.
That memorable moment has been in your dream,
With four thousand miles, two wheels and the singular aim.

It will witness your sweats and feeling,
It will let us remember that fighting cancer is like endless biking.
There are ups and downs, and twists and turns,
There are plenty of thunders and pouring rains.
There are head winds, cuts and scars,
There are camping under the stars.

You get your courage from patients,
Dedicated in the morning and recalled at the most difficult parts.
You chat with each other about cows and churches,
A good ways to forget about tiredness.

So many impossible hills are behind you,
Some many hosts are ahead of you.
Strangers, why are you so kind and nice,
We are just a bunch of stinky college kids.

As tired as I am,
I cannot afford not to note down the ways I just came.
Those moments, things and more,
Take me to my usual snore with the bodily sore.

Wake up is ahead of six slightly,
When everyone gets up not willingly.
Have something to eat and listen to instructions,
Roads and stops need to be paid attention.

Dedication is clear and real,
Chanting in a circle after a morning meal.
Groups roll out one by one, in morning lights,
Orange shirts are pretty and bright.

Tetons and Hood are tall and pretty,
But the climbing part is usually a kind of ugly.
Rivers and lakes are great,
Especially if we get to jump in them on that day.
The smell of pines makes scenery more scenic,
That flavor is the most organic.

But one thing that we can seal into an envelope,
That would be sibling like relationship we have developed.

You will return with a few flat tires and some broken shoelaces,
Together with a lot to embrace.
You spent all this energy, it is because
The same that touches so many who fight for the same cause.